Character Analysis - Cynthia Hsieh (:

Interview with Gene, Phineas and Leper

Interviewer – Gene, how do you think your character has changed from the previous section to this section?

Gene – My character is very different in this section, I used to be carefree and exciting mainly because of the absence of Phineas. As soon as chapter eight starts, you find that I’m instantly affected by Phineas’ return. I go back to my old self, always trying to please him.

Interviewer – Phineas, what kind of influence do you think you have on Gene?

Phineas – My presence is very strong and every time I’m around Gene, it seems as though he’s always trying to please me. This could possibly be from the guilt that he has from causing my accident. Its interesting to see how excited Gene was about enlisting and as soon as he sees my disappointment, he quickly changes his mind.

Interviewer – Leper, what do you think your impact has been on Gene in this section?

Leper – One of the most influential scenes in this section would be when I accused Gene of being selfish and hurting Phineas on purpose. Soon after I said those lines, the violent side of Gene came out, the more scary side of Gene was visible.

Interviewer – Gene, what do you think you valued most in this section of the book?

Gene – In the beginning of the book, I value my education and my marks. I strive to be the best in studies and that’s my main goal, but in this section there is a change in what I want and work towards. One of my values is to make Phineas proud; the guilt of possibly ruining his athletic career pushed me to be an athlete for 

Phineas. The value of becoming a better athlete, becoming so great that I can someday make it to the Olympic.

Interviewer – Phineas, what do you think you value most in this particular section?

Phineas – It would have to be, trying to be normal. I feel out of place enough that I have to be on crutches and can’t play other sports, so to seem more normal I help train Gene for the Olympics. In this section, I also find myself struggling to hold my jealousy, for example when Gene completed thirty chin ups, I was jealous of the fact that he’s replacing me.

Interviewer –Leper, What are some of your values in this section?

Leper – A main Value of mine would be serving my country and I do this by going to train to be part of the war.

Interviewer – What do you three find are some of your interests in this section?

Leper – definitely war, just the idea of enlisting and everything.

Gene – I would have to say choosing to believe or not believe Phineas about his views on the war.

Phineas – An interest in this section is definitely training Gene to be a netter athlete and also the winter carnival which I helped organize.

Basic biography.

Gene 

Gene is the narrator of the story and also happens to be one of the main characters. He goes to a school in Boston called Devon School, with his best friend Phineas. Gene is a studious student who aims to be the best in his class. During his summer at Devon he causes an accident that injures his friend Phineas, causing him to have a cast. As Phineas returns to Devon, Gene feels guilty of his actions and tries to please Phineas. Instead of being studious and all about academics, he starts working hard in sports hoping to fulfill his friends dream of going to the Olympics in 1944. “There’s no harm in taking aim, even if the target is a dream.”(Knowles, 117) Despite Gene hesitating, he agrees to go along with Phineas’ plan.

Phineas 

Phineas is Gene’s best friend and he is an athlete, who I charming and can talk his way out of trouble. This is something that Gene has always been jealous off. After his accident, he returns to Devon and is in need of Gene’s support more than ever. Upon hearing that Gene is thinking of enlisting in the war, he tries to put up a guard and pretends to be independent. When deep down, he truly wants for his best friend to stay. After Gene decides to stay, his goal is to get Gene to be the star of Devon. He starts by taking Gene to the gym and asking him to do chin-ups. Phineas is surprised to see Gene complete thirty chin-ups, this is where his jealousy begins. Instead he pushes it off to the side and starts training Gene for the Olympics. “Phineas I know had been even more startled to discover this bitterness in himself.” (Knowles, 117)

Leper

Leper is another student attending Devon.  While Phineas was away due to his injury, Leper became great friends with Gene. He confided in Gene, especially about his dreams to go to war. Soon enough, he enlisted himself and went off to war only to send Gene a letter a few weeks later explaining how he has run away from the army.  When talking to Gene, he gets defensive about the reasons why he ran away from the army and brings up a topic that really angers Gene. “You always were a savage underneath. I always knew that only I never admitted it, like the time you knocked Finny (Phineas)out of the tree.” (Knowles, 145) This shows a more confrontational and defensive side of Leper.